Recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device

ABSTRACT

A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device comprises a tube having a front muzzle end with an inturned flange portion defining a front end stop and a rear end with a cap secured thereto with an inturned flange which defines a rear end stop. The tube contains a cartridge case made of an elastic material of a low modulus of elasticity which has an outer diameter which permits it to be snugly fitted within the interior of the tube. Arranged within the cartridge case from the front muzzle end toward the opposite rear end in order and in ready-touse form are: a muzzle end brake ring adjacent the front stop, a projectile to be fired, a cartridge case base for the projectile, a propellant charge, an opposite cartridge case base having an inert material of easy divisibitlity and a rear end braking ring. All of the elements are combined in the cartridge case and are hermetically sealed therein by diaphragms which are secured to each end of the case.

United States Patent [191 Schnabele et al.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 RECOILLESS AND DETONATION-FREE PROJECTILE FIRING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Werner Schnabele, Wolfratshausen;

Fritz Zeyher, Ottobrunn; Dieter Weis, Neubiberg, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm GmbH, Ottobrunn near Munich, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.2 279,257

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Att0rneyJohn J. McGlew et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device comprises a tube having a front muzzle end with 1 an inturned flange portion defining a front end stop and a rear end with a cap secured thereto with an inturned flange which defines a rear end stop. The tube contains a cartridge case made of an elastic material of a low modulus of elasticity which has an outer diameter which permits it to be snugly fitted within the interior of the tube. Arranged Within the cartridge case from the front muzzle end toward the opposite rear end in order and in ready-to-use form are: a muzzle end brake ring adjacent the front stop, a projectile to be fired, a cartridge case base for the projectile, a propellant charge, an opposite cartridge case base having an inert material of easy divisibitlity and a rear end braking ring. All of the elements are combined in the cartridge case and are hermetically sealed therein by diaphragms which are secured to each end of the case.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure RECOILLESS AND DETONATION-FREE PROJECTILE FIRING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates, in general, to a construction of devices for firing projectiles and, in particular, to a new and useful recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device.

2. Description of the Prior Art The present invention has particular application for the firing of projectiles from a tube which is open at both ends in an arrangement in which inert material is discharged from the rear end of the tube when a propellant charge is ignited to fire a projectile from the muzzle end. By such an arrangement in which the projectile and the inert material are accelerated in respective opposite directions after the ignition of the propellant charge, the firing takes place with substantially no recoil. In a firing device of this type, the projectile and the inert material can pass through the tube beyond the stops which are formed at each end, but the associated cartridge case bases for the projectile and the inert material are prevented from issuing from the tube by brake rings which deform against the cartridge case bases while they are held against the stops formed at each end of the tube. With such a construction, the pressure gases which are generated by the propellant charges are also prevented from issuing from the tube unless they can escape through one or several escape holes provided in the barrel jacket or the cartridge case bases, or through leaks between the cartridge case bases and the barrel jacket, or through slots with a substantially smaller cross section and total cross section than the inside cross section of the tube. With the known devices, a single firing will cause extensive heating of the firing tube and the fouling of the tube by residues of the propellant charge, so this has a negative effect on the use of the device for refiring and makes it difficult to handle the device and to refire with reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a firing device is provided which is simple in design, and which differs from the known firing devices in respect to the fact that it has better reloading capacity and may be handled much easier and refired with greater reliability so that it has a longer life expectancy. With the inventive construction, the projectile to be fired along with the propellant charge for firing it and the inert material along with the cartridge case bases associated with the projectile and the inert material and two brake rings, one at each end, are combined in a cartridge case of an elastic material having a low modulus of elasticity, and having a diameter which permits it to be snugly inserted within the firing tube. All of the elements are sealed within the cartridge case by a diaphragm at each end of the case.

The combination of the various ammunition parts, according to the invention, into a structural unit, provides a considerable simplification in the transportation of the parts and in their arrangement within the firing tube. The construction improves the storability which can be further increased without great additional cost by providing a vapor lock on the cartridge case construction. In particular, however, the loading and unloading of the firing tube are simplified by arranging all of the parts within the cartridge case in the order in which they are to be arranged within the firing tube. In a preferred form, the cartridge case has a conical form with outer and inner walls tapering toward the muzzle or front end of the tube. Such a construction is usable when the residual crusher remaining in the cartridge case after emptying is used for ejecting the cartridge case from the firing tube. This is the case, for example, when the muzzle is closed by a cover after the projectile has been fired and has left the tube and in which one or more release openings or escape holes are opened and there is a removal of the stop at the rear end of the tube. Excessive heating of the firing tube and fouling of the tube by residues of the propellant charge are eliminated by the presence of the cartridge case, even when the firing device is used several times in short intervals.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a recoilless detonation-free projectile firing device which includes firing and recoil elements arranged in a single sealed cartridge case. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for firing projectiles which includes a tube having a muzzle end with a front stop and a recoil end with a rear stop and which contains a cartridge case therein having front and rear brake rings which are adapted to seat against the front and rear stops during projectile firing and which are arranged at respective ends of the cartridge case with a cartridge case base and projectile arranged at the front end in opposition to a cartridge case base for inert material and which bases are separated by a propellant charge, the cartridge case being of elastic material and being hermetically sealed at each end.

A further object of the invention is to provide a recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device which is simple in design, .rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The only FIGURE of the drawing is a longitudinal, sectional view of a recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device constructed in accordance with the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, in particular, the invention embodied therein, comprises a recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device generally designated 1 which is in the form of a hollow tube having a muzzle end 2 with an inturned flange forming an interiorly projecting stop 4 at the muzzle end and which includes a rear recoil discharge end 3 which is provided with a cap 6 defining a rear interiorly projecting stop 5. The cap 6 is a screw cap which is secured to the tube 1 by a selflocking differential thread 7.

In accordance with the invention, the firing tube 1 is loaded with a cartridge case generally designated 8 which comprises a material of low modulus of elasticity, for example a glass fiber reinforced plastic and which contains projectile firing elements therein which are arranged in order for the recoilless and detonationfree firing of a projectile 13. The cartridge case 8 is made with a wall which tapers conically inwardly from the rear end 3 through the muzzle end 2. This construction insures the transmission of forces to the firing tube 1. The interior space 9 within the cartridge case 8 is hermetically sealed from the outside by diaphragms 10 and 11 at the front end and rear end, respectively. If necessary, an additional vapor lock in the form of a metal foil (not shown) is there provided.

Located within the cartridge case 8, from the front end toward the rear end in ready-to-use order are the following: i

a first brake ring 12,

a projectile 13 which is to be fired,

a first cartridge case base 14 which is associated with the projectile 13,

a propellant charge 15,

a second cartridge case 16 which is associated with an inert material 17 which comprises easily divisilbe individual elements, and

a second brake ring 18.

Upon firing of the device, the projectile 13 and the inert material leave the firing tube 1 simultaneously but in respective opposite directions under the action of pressure gases which are developed by the ignition of the propellant charge 15. The arrangement insures the absence of a recoil. During firing, the brake rings 12 and 18 impinge against the respective stops 4 and 5 and their inner bevelled hands 12a and 18a, respectively, are deflected within curved bottom walls 14a and 16a of the cartridge bases 14 and 16 to effect a deforming braking action on the cartridge case bases. The cartridge case bases 14 and 16 come to a standstill with the brake rings 12 and 8 at the corresponding stops 2 and 3. The appearance of a detonation is thus prevented. The pressure gases which remain in the cartridge case after the projectile and the inert material have left are the firing tube 1 unless the residual pressure itself is used itself for ejecting the cartridge case 8.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device, comprising a tube having a front muzzle and with a projectile discharge opening and with a front stop adjacent the opening and having a rear opening with a rear stop adjacent the rear opening, a cartridge case in said tube of elastic material of low modulus of elasticity having an outer diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of said tube, said cartridge case containing projectile firing and detonation and recoilpreventing elements arranged in firing order from the muzzle end to the rear end and comprising a first brake ring in said cartridge case adjacent the projectile discharge opening, a projectile to be fired within said cartridge case adjacent said first brake ring, a first cartridge case base associated with said projectile in said cartridge case, a second cartridge case base in said cartridge case opposite to said first cartridge case, a propellant charge located between said first and second cartridge case bases, inert material adjacent said second cartridge case base on the ends toward said rear opening, and a second brake ring in said cartridge case adjacent said rear opening, and diaphragm means at each end of said cartridge case hermetically sealing said cartridge case.

2. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device, according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge case has a conically-shaped wall.

3. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device, according to claim 1, including a metal foil vapor lock in said cartridge case.

4. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile device, according to claim 1, including means for ejecting said cartridge case from said tube by the residual pressure developed by ignition of the propellant charge and after the projectile has left the tube. 

1. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device, comprising a tube having a front muzzle and with a projectile discharge opening and with a front stop adjacent the opening and having a rear opening with a rear stop adjacent the rear opening, a cartridge case in said tube of elastic material of low modulus of elasticity having an outer diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of said tube, said cartridge case containing projectile firing and detonation and recoil-preventing elements arranged in firing order from the muzzle end to the rear end and comprising a first brake ring in said cartridge case adjacent the projectile discharge opening, a projectile to be fired within said cartridge case adjacent said first brake ring, a first cartridge case base associated with said projectile in said cartridge case, a second cartridge case base in said cartridge case opposite to said first cartridge case, a propellant charge located between said first and second cartridge case bases, inert material adjacent said second cartridge case base on the ends toward said rear opening, and a second brake ring in said cartridge case adjacent said rear openIng, and diaphragm means at each end of said cartridge case hermetically sealing said cartridge case.
 2. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device, according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge case has a conically-shaped wall.
 3. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile firing device, according to claim 1, including a metal foil vapor lock in said cartridge case.
 4. A recoilless and detonation-free projectile device, according to claim 1, including means for ejecting said cartridge case from said tube by the residual pressure developed by ignition of the propellant charge and after the projectile has left the tube. 